Global Chip Sales Fell by 12.7%
During May, Reflecting Asian Woes

a Wall Street Journal Staff Reporter

Updated July 9, 1998 12:01 a.m. ET

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Global chip sales plummeted 12.7% in May as sales fell in all major markets due to the lingering effects of the Asian financial crisis, according to a monthly report by the Semiconductor Industry Association.

The trade group reported May sales were $9.99 billion, down from $11.45 billion a year earlier. Sales in May were 4% lower than $10.4 billion in April.